By All in Maritime News | 27 July 2025
Dalian, China — In a historic milestone for global shipping and the clean energy transition, Dalian Port has successfully completed the world’s first commercial ship bunkering operation using green ammonia. This event, which took place on July 25, 2025, marks the first time a seagoing vessel has been fuelled with ammonia produced entirely from renewable energy sources, positioning Dalian as the world’s most advanced green fuel bunkering hub.
The operation involved the refuelling of a specially designed ammonia-capable tugboat developed by COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry. The green ammonia used in the operation was produced at Envision Energy’s hydrogen-to-ammonia facility in Chifeng, Inner Mongolia. The plant uses electricity from wind and solar sources to synthesize ammonia, achieving zero carbon emissions throughout the production process.
The fuel has been certified under the ISCC PLUS sustainability standard and independently verified by Bureau Veritas, meeting international criteria for green fuels. The vessel bunkered at Dalian is now classified by the China Classification Society as an “ammonia fuel tug” and reportedly replaces 91 percent of its fossil fuel requirements with ammonia, demonstrating the feasibility of large-scale marine decarbonisation.
According to a joint statement from the project participants—Envision Energy, COSCO, Sinopec, and Dalian Port—the bunkering operation signals that a full-scale green ammonia supply chain is now technically and logistically viable. The project encompassed ammonia production, liquefaction, maritime transport, safe storage, and ship-to-ship bunkering, setting a new benchmark in maritime fuel logistics.
Dalian Port has now become the first port globally to provide bunkering capabilities for four distinct low-emission fuels: liquefied natural gas (LNG), biofuel, green methanol, and now green ammonia. This integrated offering positions the port as a strategic hub for vessels transitioning to alternative fuels amid tightening international carbon regulations.
The significance of this development has drawn attention from the broader maritime and energy communities. Green ammonia is considered one of the most promising fuels for achieving the International Maritime Organization’s decarbonisation targets, given its energy density, scalability, and existing compatibility with global ammonia infrastructure. Until now, however, no port had executed a fully certified and commercially viable green ammonia bunkering operation.
This achievement comes at a time when the shipping industry is under increasing pressure to decarbonise. According to the International Energy Agency, shipping accounted for nearly 3 percent of global CO₂ emissions in 2023, and that share is expected to grow unless meaningful shifts in fuel use occur. Green ammonia is now one of the few zero-carbon alternatives available at scale, alongside green methanol and hydrogen.
While technical and safety challenges remain—including the toxicity and volatility of ammonia—the Dalian operation has demonstrated that such risks can be managed with proper engineering, training, and compliance.
The tugboat, now operating with its new fuel blend, will serve as a test case for further deployment of ammonia-fuelled vessels, including deep-sea cargo ships, ferries, and offshore support vessels. Several leading shipowners, including NYK Line, Maersk, and MOL, are already investing in ammonia-fuel propulsion systems for future fleet orders.
With this breakthrough, Dalian Port has not only advanced China’s clean energy ambitions but also offered a viable model for ports and shipping nations around the world to emulate. Industry analysts expect further green ammonia bunkering operations to follow in Singapore, Rotterdam, and Houston, as international partnerships begin to form around alternative maritime fuel corridors.
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